Lowell bus firm could be terminated after special-needs student left aboard

LOWELL -- A special-needs student stranded for five hours on a school bus has prompted the superintendent to consider terminating the bus contract.

Lowell School Superintendent Salah Khelfaoui pointed out on Thursday that the contract with SP&R Transportation has a clause that says the school system can break the deal before it expires in June 2019. This year's contract with SP&R Transportation is almost $3.2 million.

"We're already looking for comparable contracts," Khelfaoui said.

The kindergartner left behind on the school bus for five hours on Wednesday is a student with special needs, Khelfaoui confirmed on Thursday.

All of the students transported in Lowell by SP&R Transportation are "strictly special-education students," he said.

The unidentified school bus driver was fired by SP&R Transportation after the incident on Wednesday. As they did Wednesday, company officials again would not comment on the situation on Thursday.

"We have no comment. Thank you," responded a woman who answered the phone for SP&R Transportation, located at 1 Gagnon Drive in Dracut.

Police were called to McAvinnue Elementary School regarding the incident around 1:15 p.m. -- minutes after the school district was informed about the student's presence on the bus. An investigation determined that a driver for SP&R Transportation had parked his bus at his home for roughly five hours after completing a morning route that included a drop-off at McAvinnue Elementary on Mammoth Road.

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When he returned to the bus to begin his afternoon route, the 5-year-old was still on the bus from the morning route. The driver had not checked the bus after the morning route was completed, according to police.

After being brought back to the school, the child was immediately checked over by the school nurse. Parents then took the child to a doctor who further confirmed the student's good health. He was reportedly thirsty when found. Temperatures rose into the 80s by mid-afternoon.

Residents had plenty to say about this incident after the news broke late Wednesday afternoon.

"How terrifying!" Debbi Wood wrote on Facebook. "Can you imagine how scared he must have been, nevermind that it was almost 90 (degrees) today and he must've been dehydrated and hungry. Poor thing. I'd be pressing criminal negligent charges for sure."

As is protocol, Khelfaoui said that when a child does not show up at the school, the parents are contacted. If the parents are not home, a message is left.

In this case, the 5-year-old's parents were contacted and they did confirm receiving a call, Khelfaoui said. However, it appears they hadn't gotten around to listening to the message.

"As a parent of children in Lowell Public Schools, I know that when my child is marked absent a computer generated phone call is made early on the morning as well as an email sent to the email address on file," Kristin Lach Wade wrote on Facebook. "Then later in the day, another phone call and another email.

"This is why it's so important for a parent to ensure that the school has all current contact information," she added. "It's equally as important that you answer the phone when and if your child's school calls. Yes, it may be the third reminder phone call about the bake sale... but it could also be something more important."

The superintendent said the school system has a "very solid" protocol for bus drop-offs. The driver is supposed to go to the back of the bus, and check every seat. Once the driver does that, he/she can leave the bus.

If the driver follows this protocol, then nothing goes wrong, Khelfaoui said.

"Wow, as a former bus driver you're supposed to inspect the bus after you drop off the children," Amanda LeRoy wrote on Facebook. "Most vans, not sure of the buses, have an alarm you have to shut off in the back of the bus before you get out."

According to Khelfaoui, the bus that carried the kindergartner on Wednesday does not have an electronic system in place that ensures the driver checks the entirety of the bus before he exits the vehicle.

"I'm a bus driver and I park my bus at home every day," Kolleen Pagan wrote on Facebook. "NEVER would I ever even leave the school without checking that my bus was empty and I double check when I get home.

"This never should have happened if that driver did their job properly," she added. "Not all bus drivers are careless with the precious cargo they carry."

John Descoteaux was the previous head of transportation for Lowell Public Schools. The school administration is in the process of interviewing candidates to replace him.

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